Knitting-machine.



l. LAWSON.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION PILED-JAN.10,1911.

145 5'70 Patented N0v.26,1912

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W I. m aha/wan mflzai/ TQRNEYQ J. LAWSON.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.10, 1911.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. f; F15 5 WI-NEE J. LAWSON.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1911.

1,@%5 5?@ Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. LAWSON.

KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10, 1911.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H. m T E m NW J. LAWSON.

KNITTING MACHINE APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 10, 1911.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

,INVENTI'JRL 1 if r W,

ATTUFQNEM.

WITNESSES UNTTEU TAT JOHN LAWSON, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND.

KNITTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

Application filed January 10, 1911. Serial No. 601,894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN Lawson, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State oi Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circular automatic stocking-knitting-machines; the invention being more especially devised to provide such machines with means, constituting a. double-teed, for simultaneously knitting two independent main threads into and producing the circular leg and foot portions of the stocking, one or both of said threads being inactive during the knitting of the usual heel and toe parts while the needle-cylinder is reciprocating.

The invention is also applicable toa circular automatic knitting-machine, which is adapted tov knit what are known as splitfoot stockings, either in connection with a double-feed upon the leg portion of the stocking, or not, as may be desired.

In employing a second set of knitting cams, it is necessary or desirable to use in connection therewith a corresponding second sinker-cam. In knitting a stocking provided with heel and toe pockets, it is necessary that this second set of knitting-cams should be withdrawn. out of action during the knitting of the heel and toe. It in such case the corresponding sinker-cam be left in its normal or outward position, a sinkerwavewill be formed at thatpoint, andin the formation of the same the sinkers will be moved endwise in and out by the secondary sinker-cam, notwithstanding that no knitting is being done at this point. This serves to unduly wear and abrade the thread or yarn forming the loops held upon the adjacent needles and very often to seriously injure the stocking and even render the same worthless. Moreover, in machines such as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the second set of knitting-cams and the cooperating sinker-cam are located at that part of the machine where the widening-pickers are'locat'ed, and in such machine the needles, on the return stroke, ride over the back of one of such widening-pickers, and so that thereby and down move:

ment is given to the needles at the point where the in and out movement is given tothe sinkers in'connection with the formation of the sinker wave. There results, therefore, at this point a double wearing action, or a see-saw action upon the loops of thread or yarn which remain upon the instep-needles during the formation of the heel or toe. Moreover, the up and down movements of the needles referred to have a tendency to impart a certain amount of up and down movement to the fabric itself, and if a similar wave is formed at the point where the secondary knitting-cams are located at the time such secondary cams are withdrawn so as not to operate the needles, such up and down movement of the fabric will not be prevented by the sinkers because of the withdrawal of the same to form the sinker-wave,

One object of the present invention is to eliminate that portion of the wearing action upon the thread or yarn above referred to which is due to the in and out movement of the sinkers at the point named, and to this end one feature of the invention consists in moving'the secondary sinker-cam inward at the time the secondary knittingcams are withdrawn out of action, and so as to thus make the sinker-groove concentric at this point. By so doing, not only are the in and out movements of the sinkers done away with, but the sinkers themselves, by remaining in their inner position will serve to efiectually hold down the fabric at that point.

Another feature of the invention resides in moving the secondary sinker-cam outward and deflecting the series of elevated instep-needles downward alternately from the ends of its needle-row to engage the secondary knitting-cams; the latter then being in the outward position to clear the other or short-butt series of needles. The

reason for thus retracting the secondary knitting-cams is to cause them to engage and operate only the long-butt needles. At the same time the main or primary knittingcams are inward, the corresponding sinkercam outward, andtheneedle-cylinder reciprocating. These said .primary and secondary knitting-cams, in connectionwith other 1neans,-operate respecti'velyto knit the oluble in a. contra-clockwise direction.

main and supplemental threads into semicircular courses of stitches and lnterloop them together along opposite sides of the web to produce the split-foot portion of the stocking.

It may be stated here that in a knittingmachine embodying the present improvements, the needle-cylinder is normally rev- It is, of course, also arranged to reciprocate in circular arcs, but is non-movable in a vertical direction. The main cam-ring encircling the lower portion of the cylinder is non-revoluble and is moved vertically a short distance at predetermined intervals during the production of the stocking. In fact, the movements of all the devices are automatically performed, the same being first,properly positioned and timed.

In the accompanying five sheets of drawings, illustrating a. circular automatic stocking-knitting machine, provided with the improvements forming thesubject of the present invention, Figure 1 represents a ront side elevation of said machine. Fig. 2 is a corresponding end elevation, in reduced scale, viewed from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. at is a partial plan view of the upper portion of the machine, parts of the same being omitted. Fig. 4%} is a perspective view of one of the widening pickers. Fig. 5 represents a development of the main cam-ring and the two sets of knitting-cams, viewed from the inner surface of the latter. Fig. 6 is a partial plan view, in slightly reduced scale, showing the relation of the secondary knittingcams to. the needle deflecting or Wing-cams. theneedle-cylinder being omit-ted. Fig. 7 is a perspective view, materially reduced, showing means for operating the wing-cams. 'Fi 8 represents, enlarged,- the outer end e evation of the intermittingly actuated roller-cam. Fig. 9 is a corresponding view of its rear end. Fig.

10 represents a front side elevation of the.

elevation 01:" the machine, viewed from the. rear of Fig.

Fig. 14: is a partial plan and sectional view of the needle-cylinder, &c., showing the secondary sinker-cam in the normalinward position and its relation to the needles, sinkers, &c., the spacing of the needles and sinkers being greatly exaggerated to more clearly indicate said parts.

Fig. 15 is a similar plan view, showing the secondary sinker-cam in the outward posi tion; and Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view, taken on line a: a: of Fig. 14.

With the exception of the improvements forming the subject of this application for more detailed description of its construction and. operation, v

Referring to the drawings, the swinging arm member d, arranged to guide the main knitting-thread, the radially movable sinkercam 10*, the movable cam-block D, carrying the knitting-cams w, and the narrowingpiokers R, .are located at the right of the rcvoluble knitting-cylinder; while diametrically opposed to .said parts, being at the left of the cylinder, are located a guide 01 (Z for the secondary or supplemental knitting-thread, the radially movable sinkercam w", the radially movable cam-block D carrying the knitting-cams 00 and the widening-pickers T disposed above the camblock D In the following description, the said main thread, sinker-cam 10 and knitting-cams ware each designated No. 1, as No. 1 thread, &c.; and the secondary thread, sinker-cam w", and knitting cams x are designated No. 2, as No. 2 thread, & c.

The mechanism is mounted in and supported by a main frame or housing a and table (1 The revoluble knitting or needle cylinder N is actuated by a pair of bevelgears 01., 12. the latter secured to the drivingby suitable means. A barrel-cam or drum f,

fixed to the cam-shaft, is provided with laterally spaced, interrupted, peripheral ribs f, f and f. The main roller-cam M and also the cam A, which actuates the said secondary sinker-cam w are secured to the left end of the cam-shaft. The needle-cylinder N is provided with a top ring 0 and outer or sinker-ring 91,", each being radially grooved to support the sinkers 0 the cylinder is longitudinally grooved to receive the needles n one set or series of needles having short butts if, the other series, being the instep-needles, having long butts W. A top plate H, termed the cam-plate, is bored to receive the cylinder; it carries the needlesupporting ring-cam M the instep-cam F, F wing-cams P, P, and the radially movable blocks D and D said blocks carrying the No. 1 and No. 2 knitting-earns, respectively. The camplate is adapted to be moved bodily up and down a short distance at predetermined points, through the me dium of the said roller-cam M and suitable intervening connections. in normal knitting, the cam-plate is in the elevated position to produce, say short loops or stitches. in order to lengthen the stitches, as for example when reinforcing threads are introduced, the cam-plate is moved downward.

A cap-ring G is located above the sinkerring, it has an annular flange on its underside extending below the top of the member a The ring G is non-revoluble, but capable of slight angular vibratory movements in a horizontal plane. The underside of ring G is further provided with a recessed part forming an inner peripheral flange or shoplder having its diametrically pposite major portions concentric with the cylinder, and constituting a path for the sinkers; the arrangement being such that, when in action, the engagement of the sinkcrs with said concentric part of the shoulder moves them inward to the normal position to facilitate the casting oil of the lastformed loops from the needles into the web. At diametrically opposite points in the plane of the recessed part, being substantially 90 with respect to the said concentric portions, the shoulder itself is recessed or cut away to form an enlargement o to freely permit the passage of the sinkers while they are withdrawn to pass the lmitting-cams. (See Figs. 3, 14: and At. each of these enlarged recessed places the cap-ring is provided with a radially movable sinlterycam, before referred to, having somewhat the form of a crescent and disposed in a horizontal plane; its inner or concave face portion 0 being formed substantially concentric with the cylinder proper, and when in the inward position lying contiguous to the face of theneedles. Each end of the sinker-cam is pointed and extends a short distance circumferentially past the corresponding end portion of the concentric part 0, thereby, when in action and in the inward position, causing the sinhers to successively engage the outer face of the cam, the latter, in connection with the part 0 of the cap-ring, then forming a continuous true circular sinker path. The outer face 0 of the sinker-cam is convex, its width at the center being slightly less than the space or gap 0 (Fig. l6) lying between the two vertical arms or members of the sinker 0. hen the sinkeucam is moved outward (see Fig. 15) to produce the sinker-wave at the a point diametrically opposite said guides,

with small eyes or openings d (Z arranged to receive the No. 2 or secondary main knitting-thread and guide it to the adjacent needles to be knitted into the; leg and foot portions of the stocking. The latch-ring is supported in the dropped horizontal normal position by means of the stationary vertical hollow standard K.

The guides (Z for the No. 1 main and rein-- I forcing knitting-threads are each controlled by a two-arm lever pivoted in the upper portion of standard K, a swinging lever (indicated in- Fig. 1), a wire link f connect ing the two levers, and having the front or free end of lever f adapted to engage with the corresponding cam-rib or flange f of the intermittingly revoluble drum f, before referred to. Similar means are employed for moving No. 1 sinker-cam 10 outward; that is to say, the sinker-cam is provided with a fiat arm w extending through ring G and terminating in the lateral arm 10*; the inner face of'the latter being engaged by the short vertical arm h" of the pivoted hell-crank lever 71-, the other arm being hooked into a wire link f (Figs. 3 and 4:), in turn attached to the rear end of-a swinging lever f the front end of the last-named lever being adapted to engage with a suitable peripheral cam-rib f of the drum. The spring 0 moves the sinker-cam inward to its limit upon the disengagement of the lever f from the cam-rib.

The construction and fnnction of No. 2 sinker-cam w are substantially the same as the No. 1 sinker-cam, and it is actuated as follows:A cam A, having, as drawn, three notches or depressions a formed in its periphery, is secured to the roller-cam M, Fig. 8; a lever 0 (Figs. 2 and 13) fulcrumed at o has its front end in engagement with the periphery of cam A, its opposite end being jointed to a vertical link 6 the latter in turn jointed to the rear end of the pivoted bent lever 27. To the front end of the latter is secured the vertically guided rod i its upper end portion being bent and wedge-shaped ate, and in engagement with the arm ".0 of the No. 2 sinker-cam. The lever 2' is provided with a retracting spring 8 to assist in moving it downward when the sinker-cam is to be moved from the'outward to the inward position, the spring 0 at the same time effecting the last-named movement. When the free end of said lever e is in engagement with the outer concentric portions of cam A, the No. 2 sinker-camis maintained in the outward position, asfin knitting the leg, split-foot and looper courses, and when the lever is engaging the and 6, jointed to a horizontal link 7), in turn' jointed to an extension of the swinging lever 7/, the latter also having an arm 6 (Fig. 1) whose outer end is suitably connected with and adapted to move the guided instep-cams F, F .in a vertical direction.

speed ting.

The lower end of said lever b is connected, through the medium of a link 5 to the upper end of the pivoted main clutch-lever 1), its lower end being engageable with. a suit able 'flange f of the drum 7, arranged to oscillate'the lever at intervals, thereby disengaging the main clutch b from the quickgearing, producing plain circular knitting, and interlocking itwith mechanism' arranged to move the needle-cylinder in a rotary-reciprocatory manner, 'as in pro ducing the heel and toe and split foot portions of the stocking. Upon moving the clutch in the opposite direction, the cylinder ceases its rcciprocatory movements and resumes continuous rotary action. The act of thus automatically moving the clutch into engagement with the cylinder-reciprocating mechanism causes the simultaneous move ment of the instep-cams F, F and cam block D thereby elevating and temporarily rendering inactive the long-butt or instep needles. the movement at the same time causing the U0. 2 knitting-cams to move outward to permitthe short-butt needles to move idly past them.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings. it is clear that the knitting-machine is capable of employing main and secondary knitting-threads, and is provided with main and secondary knittingcams and main and secondary sinkencams; these knitting and sinker-cams are capable of radial in and out movements with relation to the needle-cylinder, thereby, as stated, adapting the machine to use one or both of the said threads while the cylinder is reciprocating, as well as in circular knit- In adapting my improved knitting-machine to produce in the footf'portion of the stocking what is termed a. split-foot, a

secondary knitting and sinker-cams then being inthe outward or retracted positions.

The reason for retracting the secondary knitting-cams at this time is to cause them to engage and operate only the long-butt needles. While the cylinder. is thus reciproeating, the No. 1 knitting-cams a: (the latter being in the inward position and the corresponding or No. 1 sinker-cams outward) are causing the series of short-butt needles .to knit No. 1 thread into semi-courses of stitches. Concurrently with the production of the semi-conrses, the conjoint action of the wing-cams P, P instep-cams F, F and an inclined self-dropping switch-cam 2 deflect the series of elevated long-butt. needles downward to engage the retracted No.2 knitting-cams m and then deflect the needles back to the elevated position, thus converting N0. 2 thread into semi-courses of stitches, and being complementary to the first-named semi-courses. Each semi-course of-stitches of one series is at the same time interlooped or joined to each semi-course of stitches of the other series. The thus produced split-foot portion of the stocking will present a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed juncture lines where the two threads are connected.

The following describes the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2, 6, 7, 13, &c.. for simultaneously actuating and controlling the movements of the wing-cams: A small lug m is suitably positioned and secured to the main cam-roll M and projects a short distance beyond the latters periphery to engage the front or free end m of a two-arm lever a pivoted on a stud a At the comcal link a connected at the upper end to a bell-crank lever (1 the other arm of the last named lever being jointed to a short connection 0, which in turn 1s omted to a slidable bent band-slide E partly encircling the left end of the table a and supported by screws s extending therefrom through elongated holes a*. To the member E are secured a pair of dogs or platesf'i', a portion. of each extendingabove the table and having an inclined or beveled edge part 1. Thus it willbe seen as before stated that the rotary movements ot the cam-roller causes position, as just stated,

loops from No. 1 thread,

the corresponding cam-plate 'r and kept in the lug m to engage the end m of lever a: once per revolution, as indicated in Fig. 7, thereby, through the medium of said connec-, tions, moving the guided lever E and its cam-plates 1' rearwardly a short angular distance and automatically positioning the wing-cams inward to engage the long-butt needles-see Figs. 6 and 11.

The front and rear wing-cams I, P, shown in Fig. 6 in the inward or operative are each secured respectively'to the upper arm of a swinging latch 5 pivoted to an ear or bracket If fixed to the top of the plate H. A screw passing through a slot h of the latch seryes to guide the latter in its angular movements. The outer or free end of the horizontal portion 9 of the latch is, when in use, supported by normalcontact with it ably mounted spring 9 See also Fig. 11. When the cam-roller inits intermittent movements, carries the lug m past the lever a, the latter, assisted by a pull-spring a", Fig. 13, drops onto the concentric rim of the roller or other suitable stop, thereby, through the meansdescribed, causing the member E to advance angularly, the springressed arms g of the two latches meanwhile sliding downward on the inclined surfaces 1' of the members 1', thus simultaneously retracting the wing-cams outward from the cylinder into the normally inactive position. In connection with the rear wing-cam P, the inclined switch-cam e, before'referred to, is employed, the same being located below said wing-cam and secured to a shank z mounted to oscillate in a stand or bracket h; a spring 2 serves to keep the switch-cam in its lower inclined or normal position. See Figs. 6, 11 and 12.

In plain or regular circular knitting the butts of all the needles pass freely under the spring-pressed cam 2 but in knitting the heel and toe, the cylinder then reciprocating and the cams m moved outward, both series of butts engage the upper inclined face of the cam 2 and are thereby deflected upward, only the long-butt needles however are then acted upon by the knitting-cams m. The cylinder in its return movement, in cotiperation with wing-cam P, deflects the needles downward, the long-butt needles at the same time engaging the other cam 00 to cooperate with other members for casting off the loops of the last-named needles into the web, the other wing-cam P deflecting the needles immediately thereafter into the upper inoperative plane. See Fig. 5.

In making the split-foot portion of the l stocking, the normally. positioned shortbutt needles will, during each reciprocation of cylinder N, in connection with E0. 1 l knitting-cams, produce a semi-course by means of a suitof the butts of the needles meanwhile freely passing the inner faces of the No. 2 knitting-cams, the instepcam and the wing-cams; the narrowingpicks then being idle. At the same time,

too, the series of long-butt needles, then ele-' vated'above the working-plane of the other series of needles, are successively-deflected downward by Wing-cam P ,'positioned con tiguous to the instep-cam, to engage No. 9. knitting-cams to produce a semi-course of loops from No. 2- thread, the needles immediately thereafter being deflected upward between the adjacent inclined faces of the wing-cam P and switch-cam z to the elevated plane. The contrary movement of the cylinder deflects the long-butt needles downward between the said cams P and .2 to engage No. 2 knitting-cams, the latter, in connection with wing-cam P and instep-cam, next deflect the needles upward to the elevated plane. In the development of the ring-cam M, represented in Fig. 5, the irregular, fine dotted line indicates the movements of the long-butt needles when the cylinder is moving in one direction, and the coarser dotted line indicates the movements of the needles when the cylinder is rotating in a contrary direction.

I claim as my invention 1. A circular knitting-machine having in combination a needle-cylinder having needles and sinkers movably mounted therein, two knitting-cams, two corresponding sinkercams, means for rendering one of said knitting-cams inactive, both of said sinker-cams toward and from said needle-cylinder.

2. In an automatic circular stocking-knitting machine. the combination of a knittingcylinder, needles and sinkers capable of independent movements mounted in the cylinder, main and secondary knitting-cams, means for introducing an independent knitting-thread to the needles at a point contiguous to each of the knitting-cams, a pair of sinker-cams disposed in the path of the sinkers, and means adapted to move the sinker-cams bodily toward and from the cylinder at certain points while the stocking is being produced.

8. In a circular automatic stocking-knitting machine having a knitting-cylinder provided with independently movable needles and sinker-s, the combination therewith of means arranged for introducing a pair of knitting-threads to the needles, a pair of stitch-forming devices positioned with relation to both the said cylinder and threadfeeding means arranged to simultaneously convert said knitting-threads into a plurality of circular courses of stitches at each revolution of the machine, a sinker-cam located adjacent each point where the said knittingthreads are introduced to the needles and being engageable with the sinkers, and

means for moving the sinker-cams in and out with respect to the cylinder while the stocking is being produced.

4. In a knitting-machine of the general character described, the combination of a revoluble knitting -cylinder, needles and sinkers'movably mounted therein and revoluble with it, a sinker-guiding path having its major portion concentric with the cylin- 10 der and provided with recesses, a sinker-cam mounted in each recess, means for moving the sinker-cams inward at predetermined times for the purpose specified, and means for moving both sinker-cams outward at predetermined points while the stocking is being knitted.

5. In a stocking knitting machine of the general character described, the combination with a revoluble knitting-cylinder and guided latch-needles and 'sinkers mounted ,therein, of means for introducing a pair of independent main knitting-threads to the circular row of needles and converting them into two circular courses of stitches during each revolution of the cylinder, a non-revoluble sinker-cam located adjacent the point where each of said knitting-threads is introduced, and means for moving one or both sinker-cams inward during the knitting operation to prevent injurious wearing action by the sinkers upon the stitches and web supported by the inactive needles.

6. In a knitting-machine having a rotary cylinder and independently movable needles .and sinker-s mounted therein and revoluble with the cylinder, the combination therewith of a relatively stationary cap-ring disposed above the cylinder provided with a groove or path for guiding the sinkers inward, a

pair of sinker-cams interposed in said path adapted when they are moved inward, and in cooperation with the path, to temporarily guide all the sinkers in a true circle, means for moving the sinkercam's outward to defleet the sinkers from a circular path at points contiguous to the stitch-forming places, as in normal circular knitting, and means for efi ecting the said inward movements of the sinker-cams.

7. In a circular automatic split-foot stockingknitting machine, a knitting-cylinder, independently movable sinkers and long and short-butt needles mounted therein, main and secondary knitting-cams arranged with relation to the cylinder, means for operating the latter in a rec'iprocatory manner during the production of the split-foot-portion of the stocking, and means for introducing an independent knitting-thread to the needles at each of the two stitch-forming points, the

combination therewith of independentlymovable sinker-cams located in the path of the sinkers, means for moving said sinker cams, means for moving the series of long butt needles upward out of the normal knitting-plane, means for moving the secondary knitting-cams outward so as to clear the series of short-butt needles while the latter In testimony whereof I have atiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN LAVSON.

Witnesses:

Gno. H. Rnmno'rox, CALVIN H. BROWN. 

